Purpose: To assess the efficacy of taurolidine (TauroLockTM) line locks on the prevention of catheter-related bloodstream infections (CRBSI) in patients on home parenteral nutrition (HPN).
Methods: In our unit, any patient with ≥2 CRBSIs in six months is considered for TauroLockTM (2% taurolidine and 4% citrate) line locks. All such patients from May 2007 until January 2012 were identified, along with associated CRBSI rates. CRBSI was defined by differential time to positivity for positive blood cultures. CRBSIs were grouped into pre-taurolidine use and post-taurolidine commencement for each patient and the infection rate per 1000 catheter days calculated. Results were analyzed using Wilcoxon two-sided test.
Results: A total of nine patients were included (two men and seven women) with a median age of 51 (range 43-82) years. Infection rates after commencing taurolidine decreased markedly in all patients studied. The median CRBSI rate prior to taurolidine use was 6.39 per 1000 catheter days. This decreased to a median CRBSI rate of 0 per 1000 catheter days after commencing taurolidine.
Conclusions: Taurolidine is no substitute for careful aseptic technique. However, it is clearly effective at preventing CRBSIs and should be used in patients with recurrent infections to reduce morbidity.